Combined floor brush and duster



Feb. 19, 1935. J. M. QBERTI COMBINED FLOOR BRUSH AND DUSTER Filed May 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n m/ W 5 m A TTORNEYS.

Feb; 19, 1935. J. M. OBERTI 1,991,693

COMBINED FLOOR BRUSH AND DUSTER Filed May 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 17 u 19 Z9 Z ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 My invention relates to; improvements incombined floor brush'and' duster, and; it consists of. the combinations; constructions and arrangements hereinafter described'xand claimed.

:An object of my inventionlissto providea combined floorbrush 'andduster, which is an improvementover my depending application'serial.

No. 634,042, filed September 20,'1'932.'

In the .copending. application? I- show a. floor cluster in which-the handle. has a universal connection with thecleaningl member so thatv a 10-. tation of the handleabout its longitudinal axis will swingithe cleaning element into the various angular'positions 'on the floor. I' iurther show spring-actuated clips for holding rolls' ofdusting cloth on top of thekcleaning member. I I find it inconvenient to secureflthe rolls of cloth to the clips after a clean section of cloth hasbeen' substituted for a soiled section. Q, r. To "overcome this disadvantage I provide in; the present case. spring-actuatedclips' which are de-; signed vto move away from'eajch; other inthe same manner as a pair of jaws, and this movement will free therolls. of cloth from the cleaning: member; Afteria clean sectionhas: been broughtinto position, the spring clips can be freed: and willv return to normal position, and this movement will cause the-rolls of cloth to ride, upon the, cleaning memberywithout. anyfurtheraid-fromthe ope erator. i 1- o p A further object of my inventionis to provide a clip. whichcan automatically accommodate itself .torolls of variousthicknesses. The-clip is also designed to be self-docking andin this .way the accidental" freeing of the cloth-engaging members is prevented." v I 7 an Other objectsand advantagesiwill appear in the following. specification; and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointedout in the appended claims, it t My invention is illustrated inthe accompany ing drawin'gs forminga part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a'f rontelevation o'fj'the device' showl ing thenovel types of clips;"' e

Figure Zis a top plan view showing the dusting cloth in position; f1 .j Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of one Oft'IIECIiDS; v

Figure 4 is a. side'elevation ofFigure 3'; Figure 5 is a section'alon'g the line 5 -5v of Figure, 3 showing rhesus raised into released position;

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of members (between the-uppe endelower' a t h frame is The rubber extends eyon he ma ginal edses'oi thev rame; 1,, .andiin thi a ac xas. a shock absorber; M a so prevents the frame 1 mer e: the u t re: and. other o c contacted, bathe: cleen ng member; The frame 1 (tenses; the QDPQQite ed es 31015 the rubber piece 2 to -bet inclinedidownwerdlyat a slight angle,

and constructionyspaees the lower metal pieceabovethe'fioor 4. 1 Inthis way the rubber piece 2 protects themetal pieces 1 from contactewith. nyebi ct. 9'

} Ahandled-haaa universal connection with the cleaning; member, andthis is accomplished by means ofi a pin; 6' which 7 pivotally secures the handleto a connecting member '7. i-Theiconnecting,membe initurn is," pivotally secured at 8 to the c1eaningmember;-1, andthe pivot 8' extends at right, anelesto. the pivot; 6; In this way a simple: 9 universal, connection is afforded betweenthe handled and the cleaningmember.

The cleaning: member; is lguoad enough'in; area to preyent it; fromover -turning and this permits the handler: to be rocked alongits longitudinal axis. orswinging, the cleaning member into various'anaularpesitions; with respect to the floor 4, r

This ieaturehas been clearly set copending; application Y fi 9 1; employ twoi clips. indicated generally at'A and B, ior removably securing rolls 9 and 10 of a dust-absorbing material), such as -dusting cloth 11 tO-the member. 1 Thedusting ,cloth 11 is inthe f rm of a sinele strips of; material, andthe ends 01 th? cloth are, wrapped around the rolls 9 and 10. The cloth ts-wider than; the length of the cleaning member 1, and itis also passed around the edges 3 of the resilient'member 2, andvthe forth in my [T011819 and 10. carryingthe unused portions of the cloth are: mountedf'onrtop of the member When the section of cloth, disposed below the memberi becon esysoiled the rolls 9 and 10.7 are freed item the member 1. by actuatingthe clips A and-Bin,v the manner hereinafter described, and then the; soiled section is wound upon one ofthe rollers, and a: clean, section is unwound from e ner ll m ns m m r isw placed over the clean section of cloth, and then the clips A and B are released and will cause the rolls 9 and 10 to move up on the cleaning member 1, and to be securely held in place until the operator again Wishes to free the rolls.

Since both of the clips A and B are identical to each other, a description of one will suifice. The clip A is shown in detail in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive. A strap 12 is permanently secured to the frame 1 by means of bolts 13 or othersuitable fastening means. The portion 14 of the strap 12, see Figure 4, disposed between the bolts 13, is raised above the metal piece 1 and provides .a space 15 for slidably receivinga-guide.

The guide 16 is of the shape shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, and comprises a bodymemberfl' that is slidably mounted between the metalframe 1 and the raised portion 14 of thestr'ap 12;"The body 17 has ears 18 which extend upwardly: and:

are mounted on either side of the strap'12, see Figure 6. The ears are spaced from the sides of the strap 12 for a purpose hereinafter described. -The guide 16' also has a slot 19-for slidably receiving the strap 12 and the end of the guide disposed opposite the cars 18 is bent back upon itself as shown at 20 for providing a guide for roller-engaging arms or members 21 and 22.. The members 21 and 22 are of the shape shown in Figure 4, and these members are pivoted at 23 and 24 to a bracket-25, which in turn is pivoted at 26 to the strap 12. Openings 27and28 are provided in'the guide 16 and it will be-noted that they are arranged so as to slidably receive the roller-engaging members 21 and 22. The edges 29 and 30 of the openings are utilizedfor swinging the members 21 and 22 into closed positio'mwhile the edges 31 and 32 are-utilized for moving the members into opened position. *The openings 27 and 28 are designed so as to'not create a binding action on the members 21 and 22 at any time.

The means for moving the guide '16 comprises a lever 33, see Figure 4, pivoted at'34 to a bracket 35, which in tu'rn is'secured to the strap'12 by means of the pin 26. A link 36 pivotallyco'nnects the lever -33with thev ears 18 of the guide 16, and it will therefore be seen that 'a movement of thelever from the position shown in Figure 4 into that shown in Figure 5 will move the guide 16 to the right. The movement of the guideis indicated between the full line position in Figure 6 and the dotted line position 0' shown in the same figure. "This movement will cause the edges 31 and 32 of the-openings Z'Zan'd 28 to swing the members 21 and 22; outwardly about pivots 23 and 24'. A torsional 'spring'37 is mounted-on the pivot pin 34, and has its ends engaging with the bracket35, andthe pivot pin- 38 of the link 36 for causing the lever 33 to swing back into closed position when the lever is freed. It will-be noted from Figure 4 that when the lever 33 is'in closed position the pivot pin 38 is swung slightly beyond dead centerposition, and in this-way the device is self-locking. The free ends of the roller-engaging arms 21 and 22 extend below the top of the frame 1, see Figures 1 and '7.- Figures 4-and 5 show details of the clips and ends of the arms 21 and 22 are shown cut off atthe top of the frame 1 although actually they extend below as showninFiguresland'l. V

Referring to Figure'll it will'be seen that a cord 39 has a knob 40 secured to its upper end, and the cord is passed; through aneyelet' 41 mounted inthe handle5f Cord sections 42 and 43 branch off fromthe cord 39,1and these sections are secured to rings 44-carried by the free ends of the levers 33 of the clips A and B. When the knob 40 is raised it will pull upward the cord sections 42 and 43, and this in turn willswing the 7 levers 33 of both clips A and B into released position. This movement as already described will swing the roller-engaging members 21 and 22' into the position shown in Figure 6. This is sufllcient to free the rollers from the member 1, and to permit a new section of cloth to be brought into place; The members 21 and'22 are swung into a wide enough angle. to entirely free the rollers from the frame 1. Afterthe change of cloth has been made the mere freeing of the clips A and B will cause the members 21 and 22 to swing toward each other, and this will carry the rollers 9 and-10 up on top of the frame 1. The

ends of the arms 21 and 22 are disposed close enough to the floor 4' as shown in'Figures 1 and 7, to; engage with the rollers 9 and 10 when the latter are resting on the floor and when the'arms are in extended-position as shown in Figure 6. A mere. swinging of the arms'intothe full line position shown in Figure 3 will:move the rollers in the manner stated; I In order to accommodate rolls thicknesses, I provide-a space between:the ears 18 and; the strap 12, and I also provide. an elongated slot 19 which is longer than the width of the strap, see Figure 6. If, for example, the

roll 10 has more cloth on it than the roll 9, the,

of different clip A to first engage with the roll 10. The spring 37 is strong enough to keep the members .21 and s 22 moving toward each other until both members engage with the'rolls of cloth 9 and 10. The guide 16 is'free to shift laterally withrespect to the strap 12, and this movement is clearly shown I in Figure 3. It will be noted from this figure that the guide 16 has shifted to the dotted line position shown atD, and this will cause the link 36 and-the lever 33, together with the'bracket 25, to'swing aboutthebolt 26 as a pivot. This will permit the member 21 toass'ume the dotted line position shown'at E, and the member. 22 to;as-' sume thedottedline position shown 'atF. It will be seenfrom this construction 'thatthe clamping action ofthe clip is not interferedwith in the slightest and that the clip can automatically accommodate itself to rolls of different thickness.

The distance between the free ends of the members 21 and 22, when they are in closed position, willremain substantially constant,.andfthjs is sufficient to create a gripping effect upon the rollers'9 and 10 at all times regardless of the amount of cloth wound on either roller. *Figure 3 shows the shifting of the guide 16, members 21 and 22, in a clockwise direction from the full line position. The device:is. adapted toshift to the same extent in a counter-clockwise direction from the same full line position.

Agreater leverage is afforded with this type of clip than-the type shown in my copendingapplication. In my copending device the entire force was exerted by the spring 19; In the present device the force is exerted by, the spring 37 and the operative connection between the lever 33, and the members 21 and 22 is such as to build up this force so that a relatively greatclamp ing action is exerted upon the rollers 9 and 10 by the members 21 and 22. When the members 21 and 22 are inclosed position they are disposed adjacent to the edgesof the frame 1, as clearly shown in Figure 3. This prevents the rollers from' dropping off the frame.

in the scope or the appended lai-InS "'Wi'th0ut"de'-:

parting from the spi-rit of the invention."

Iclaim; V a A V 1; In-co binationgaguide strap, a guide mov able therealong and also having freedom of a' slight lateral movement with respect to the strap, said guide having laterally spaced slots therein, a bracket pivoted to the strap for movement laterallyof the strap and guide, arms pivoted to the bracket for movement laterally of the strap and guide and being slidably received in the slots, a'

second bracket pivoted to the strap on the same pivot that supports the first bracket, a lever pivoted to the latter bracket, a link connecting the lever with the guide, whereby a swinging of the lever will swing the arms, said guide, arms and first and second brackets being swingable -a slight distance about'the common pivot point of the first and second brackets.

2. In a cleaning device, a fiat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneath the frame, two rollers having the ends of the cloth wound thereon and adapted for movementfrom positions alongside opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to positions on top of the frame and means mounted upon the frame for effecting such movement. r a l 3. In a cleaning device, a fiat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneath the frame, two rollers having the ends of the cloth wound thereon and adapted for movement from positions alongside opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to positions on 'top of the frame and means mounted upon the frame for effecting such movement, thelatter means being shaped to engage the rollers from opposite sides for holding the same in position on top of the frame.

4. In a cleaning device, a flat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneath the frame, two rollers having the ends of the cloth wound thereon and'adapted for movementfrom positionsalongside opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to positions on top of the frame and such movement, the latter means being shaped to engage the rollers from opposite sides for holding the same in position on top of the frame, and having means for freeing the rollers from said first named means for permitting the rollers to move in the opposite direction down the inclined side edges.

'5. In a cleaning device, a flat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneath the frame, two rollers having the ends of the cloth wound thereon and adapted for movement from positions alongside opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to positions on top of the frame and means mounted upon the frame for effecting such movement, the latter means being shaped to engage the rollers from opposite sides for holding the same in position on top of the frame, said means being movable laterally for automatically compensating for different thicknesses of the rollers.

6. In a cleaning device, .a flat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a

opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to -positions: on top orthev frame and a pair of 'arms mounted upon each endi of the frame so as toefor'm' "anangleand having freedom of movementfor increasing and decreasing theang-le; the

having' fingers engaging the-rolls for moving th la-tter rip-"the" inclinededges when the arms are moved for decreasing the angle.

'7. In a cleaning device, a flat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneaththe frame, two rollers having the ends of the cloth wound thereon and adapted for movement from positions alongside opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to positions on top of the frame and a pair of arms mounted upon each end of the frame so as to form an angle and having freedom of movement for increasing and decreasing the angle, the arms having fingers engaging the rolls for moving the latter up the inclined side edges when the arms are moved for decreasing the angle, and spring actuated means for moving the arms toward each other.

8. In a cleaning device, a flat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneath the frame, two rollers having the ends of the. cloth wound thereon and adapted for movement from positions alongside opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to positions on top of the frame and a pair of arms mounted upon each end of the frame so as to form an angle and having freedom of movement for increasing and decreasing the angle, the arms having fingers engaging the rolls for moving the latter up the inclined side edges when the arms are moved for decreasing the angle, and

means for moving the arms toward each other and comprising a longitudinally movable memher having arm engaging elements for spreading or contracting the same as the member movesand spring means for moving the member for contracting the arms.

9. In a cleaning device, a fiat, rectangular frame having downwardly inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneath the frame, two rollers having the ends of the cloth wound thereon and adapted for movement from positions alongside opposite, sides of the frame up the inclined side edges to positions on top of the frame and a pair of arms mounted upon each end of the frame so as to form an angle and having freedom of movement for increasing and decreasing the angle, the arms having fingers engaging the rolls for moving the latter up the inclined side edges when the arms are moved for decreasing the angle, a longitudinally movable'member having arm engaging elements for spreading or contracting the same as the member moves, spring means for moving the member for contracting the arms and a manually operated lever operatively connected to the member for moving the member in the opposite direction for spreading the arms whereby the rollers are released.

10. In a cleaning device, a flat rectangular frame having downwardly. inclined side edges, a cloth disposed underneath the frame, two rollers having the ends of the cloth wound thereon and adapted for movement from positions alongside opposite sides of the frame up the inclined side of arms mounted upon each end of the frame-so as to form an angle and having freedom of movement for increasing and decreasing the angle, the arms having fingers engaging the rolls for moving the latter up the inclined side edges when the arms are movedfor decreasing the angle, a longidirectionfor spreadingthe armsvvherebv the rolltudinally movable member having arm engaging ers are released, the. two arms: being;rnounted to elements for spreading or contracting the same as swing on a. common pivot as a unit whereby they 1 the member moves, spring means for moving the may be moved laterally as a unit to compensate 5 member for vcontracting the arms and a "manfor differences in the thickness of the rollers. H

ually operated lever operatively-eonnected to the V Y member for moving the memberiinthe opposite y a v r t 7 JAMES M, OBERII'I. 

